By Cuisine

Fig season is one of my favorite times of year. It reminds me that the Fall season is soon on its way, that the intensity of the summer heat is over {usually} and it’s almost time to wrap myself up in a comfy sweater and curl up with a good book food magazine. It’s not dark very early or very ...

Have you ever planned to spend a theme-filled day out? We seem to do it a lot of this in Chicago since there are so many great neighborhoods to explore. For example, there are some great Swedish places to visit in Andersonville (delis, clothing stores, museum and cafes); the Pilsen neighborhood for some Latin flavor; Greektown for the cafes & ...

It’s so hard to believe the month of Ramadan is nearly over, which is a bit sad for us because we love it so much. It’s such a time of being scheduled and focused and distraction-free. However bittersweet the end is, there is also a great reward in the three-day long celebration of ‘Eid ul Fitr, where we can enjoy ...

Ramadan + summer= a great time for fresh and delicious fruit salads. Believe it or not, there is a way to make fruits salads even better, particularly when they’re part of the Iftar (breaking of the fast) part of the sunset meal and need to be made ahead of time for guests. Fresh fruit salad paired with Saffron Road’s new ...

Have you ever tried argan oil? It is some really amazing stuff that is great for cooking as well as making yourself beautiful on a budget…not that you need any more beautifying, of course. In the past year I’ve been using it in my cooking and even more so on my sensitive skin (the cosmetic grade) in a massive effort ...

As you might be able to see from this blog, I’m a bit entranced by Moroccan things- style, geography, and the delicious, healthy and traditional food. Amanda Mouttaki is the author of Maroc Mama, a blog about her experience with and love of Moroccan culture and cuisine {and a whole lot more}. In this post she gladly shares her recipe ...

The first time I ever had Keema (that wonderful Indian-spiced ground beef dish) was during one of my very first Suhoor (pre-dawn) meals with family friends. I was invited to spend the weekend with them in Chicago during Ramadan. I had no idea whatsoever that people actually ate savory foods for a meal so early in the morning.

One of my favorite summertime recipes is for Buffalo Wings. The first time I ever had them was way back in college- it was the late night food of choice with friends- we didn’t have a care in the world about eating spicy food at that hour, or any food at all for that matter. It was quick, easy, inexpensive, ...

Nadia Hubbi of Sweet Pillar & Co. gives us her take on how two of the healthiest and most traditional nuts of the Middle East stack up in food history, health benefits and culinary use. It’s an interesting look at both walnuts and pistachios, some of the most widely-used nuts in traditional Middle Eastern cooking that are making big waves ...

It’s summer. It’s Ramadan. Do you blame me for craving a burger? Hopefully not, because maybe you are, too. Chances are there’s plenty of people grilling the summer away as much as possible, since that’s usually the most popular item to throw on. In my case, grilling isn’t so easy so I opt for either oven baking or pan sautéing ...

I'm Yvonne Maffei, welcoming you to explore halal cooking, eating, and living. Join me for a delicious exchange of global recipes, cooking tips and lifestyle inspiration you can enjoy any day of the week!